Category: Opinion

“YOUR feelings are valid.” This statement has received growing popularity in today’s digital age, especially with the help of social media and content creators. While freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, it loses its moral value when it becomes a tool for spreading misinformation, hatred, or ignorance under the immunity of opinion or expression.

IN the political landscape of the Philippines, certain individuals vested with power are often associated with colors to amplify their history, name, and position. Politics in the country has, as some say, bled into a narrative of hues, shadows, and color — rather than one of truth, accountability, and integrity.

Across the globe, fanaticism is a complex behavior evident in various forms and activities. In the realm of politics, fanaticism plays a crucial role, especially in modern media — where stories are often manipulated and crafted to lead fanatics.

“’DI mo ba naririnig? Tinig ng bayan na galit?” is how the Filipino version of the popular song “Do you hear the people sing?” from Les Misérables goes as the play recounts the French Revolution. The Filipino version of the song was produced in 2017, not only translating the message of strengthened democracy in the country’s political landscape. To this day, the song remains relevant, especially at times where the government is abusing their power and committing atrocities that leave the citizens bare to face the consequences.

AS a Filipino, I sometimes feel both amazed and disappointed at how fast the Philippines forgets. Every time a scandal or controversy sparks, everyone talks about it. News channels cover it non-stop, and social media explodes leading to eventual backlash. People act like it is the most important issue in the country, but in a few weeks, days, and months, it all disappears, the noise suddenly goes quiet. We all move on to the next controversy, may it be on an artist or another political issue, even if the previous one was never resolved. It makes me wonder, do we care about change, or do we just enjoy drama?

IN the field of journalism, the directive is clear: speak truth to power, expose those who remain hidden, and hold those comfortable in their seats accountable. Yet, in practice, these concepts remain an afterthought. Too often, some reporters and media practitioners “turn the other cheek”—not in the biblical context of avoiding conflict, but in a more grim sense of ignoring the injustices and choosing silence when truth begs to be told.

MANY years have passed since Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed a bill to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13. Once again, the same bill resurfaced in 2025. When it was first proposed, it faced a lot of backlash and criticism, but the continuing question still lies the same: Who is the real culprit?

LAST time I talked about risk, it was about choosing courage in moments that demand it—maybe that’s true. But over time, I learned that bravery is only the first chapter of the story.

WHEN you hear the word instant, do you treat the term with little value, often associating it with noodles, something microwavable—something instantly served? Or perhaps you cast it in a negative light, because nothing good ever seems to come from something done in an instant, right? So, why does the term also apply to a certain program—a stereotype or a running gag for a particular engineering degree? Baffling as it sounds, unfortunately, the label lingers.

THERE are things in life we resist, moments we fight to forget, rewrite, or avoid entirely.